Following a meeting with Irish counterpart Charlie McConalogue on the sidelines of an EU farm ministers' gathering on Monday, Lollobrigida explained it’s also important to note that wine is healthy in moderation.
Italy has protested against the proposed cigarette-like labelling and has said it will ask the EU to put the matter to the World Trade Organization if necessary.
Italian wine producers, who fear exports being hit by the labelling especially if other EU countries follow suit, have said they will make common cause with their counterparts in France and Spain and other leading wine making countries.
Lollobrigida, who has also announced action with Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, said on Monday that Rome was in the process of drafting a joint document with Paris and Madrid.
Lollobrigida, who is the grand-nephew of late screen diva Gina Lollobrigida, said after his talks with McConalogue that "we were able to explain our arguments on what must be a correct system of information that explains that excessive use of alcohol, like excessive use of anything else, causes damage but they must not become a stigma for products which when consumed in moderation may in fact be factors of wellbeing, and that is what wine is for us".
He said that Italian food and wine exports amounted to an annual 60 billion euros and said he supported wine producers in their anxiety over the proposed Irish labels and the possibility they may spread.
League party MP Mirco Carloni said after meeting wine producers Monday that the League would "defend the sector in all fora".
However, after the tacit approval of the European Commission, Ireland is set to move ahead with the warnings, despite the opposition of Italy and the other major wine producers..
"We do not yet have precise dates, but the government is working on it and we will go ahead," sources have said.
They noted that Irish legislation on the issue dates back to 2018.
ANSA
